Measuring and filling machine.



PATENTBD JULY 14, 1903.

v T. SMITH. MEASURING AND FILLING MACHINE.

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NiTE STATES Patented July l4,

ATENT OFF-Ion,

MEASURING AND FILLING MACHINE.

srncrFrcA'rIorr forming part of Letters FatentNo. 733,682, dated. July14, 1903. Application filed October 2 5, 1901. Serial No. 79,991, (Nomodel.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS SMITH,0I'Ohardist, residing at Geebung,Queensland, Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Measuring and Filling Machines; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

My invention relates to machines for filling alimentary and certainother goods in predetermined quantities into tins, jars, bottles, or thelike, and is especially applicable for filling tins with jam, preservedfruit, ground spice, and other articles that flow or run freely, theobject of my invention being the production of a simple and efficientmachine that will quickly fill a number of tins or other receptacles atonce with a like quantity in each. In a modified form thisinvention canalso be used for sowing seeds or distributing fertilizer.

My invention as designed for jam and such like consists of a hopper (tohold in bulk the material to be filled into smaller vessels) the bottomof which has semicircular grooves or flutes. Concentric with thesegrooves and fitting neatly against them are rollers carried on gudgeonsand rotatable in bushings in the ends of the hopper. At one end thegudgeons extend through the end of the hopper and are connected so thatall the rollers rotate together. A modification may be made by makingthe bottom with horizontal recesses or in the form of horizontal tubesjointed together and having transverse holes therein above and below andinserting the rollers in- In each form the rollers have a number ofpockets made, preferably, cylindrical and at right angles to the axis ofthe roller designed to contain a predetermined quantity. Under theserollers and coinciding with each pocket supported by and extendingthrough a shelf below the bottom of the hopper are a number of funnelsor chutes, each terminating with an inverted bonnet hung slightly out ofcenter. Room is provided under the chutes and bonnets for trayscontaining the time or vessels to be passed for filling. The number ofrollers or the number of pockets in the rollers can be varied to suitthe requirementsof the trade and the goods being packed. Packing isprovided between the rollers and also between the rollers and thehopper. The pockets in the rollers can be made with adjustable bottoms,so that the quantity measured by each can be varied or adjustedaccurately.

In order, however, that my invention may be clearly understood, I willnow describe both it and the modifications in detail, illustrating thedescription by means of the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 isa transverse sectional elevation of one form of filling-machine. Fig. 2is a plan of same, one tray being removed and part of the rollers beingbroken off. Fig. 3 is a part longitudinal sectional elevation of same.Fig. 4 is a part view showing a modification of the bottom of the hopperwith rollers. Fig. 5 is a part view showing another modification of thebottom of hopper with rollers. Fig. 6 is a sectional view, to anenlarged scale, of a pocket or measure in the roller, showing one way ofvarying the capacity of the measure.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 6, A is the hopper, having semicirculargrooves or fiutes B in the bottom. Fitting neatly in and concentric withthese flutes or grooves B are rollers 0, carried by gudgeons D at eachend, running in bushings E in the ends of the hopper A. Atone end thegudgeons D extend through the end of the hopper and are connected byconnecting-rods F or otherwise, so that all the rollers can be rotatedtogether. G is the operating-handle. Packing H is provided' between therollers O and also between the rollers O and the hopper A.

In Fig. e the rollers G revolve in recesses formed by inverted groovesor flutes formed in the bottom B of the hopper A, and covers B areattached thereto, by set-screws or otherwlse'.

In Fig. 5 the rollers O revolve in the tubes B jointed together andforming the bottom of the hopper A. Packing is provided where necessary.

In each of the rollers O are a number of pockets or measures J, made,preferably, cylindrical and to a certain predetermined size. Variousmeans may be used for varying the capacity of the measure as desired,one

method being shown in Fig. 6, where the measure is provided with anadjustable bottom J, raised or lowered bya screw J tapped therein.

In each of the grooves or flutes B or recesses B B or tubes B of thebottom of the hopper A and coinciding with the pockets J in the rollersare holes K, and immediately under these holes K are funnels or chutesL, carried on a shelf M, each funnel or chute L terminating with aninverted bonnet N, hung slightly out of center, as shown in Figs. 1 and3. A removable tray may be inserted beneath the bottom of the funnels orchutes L instead of a bonnet N on each chute, if preferred.

Underneath the shelf M is a table or shelf P to receive the trays Q,containing the tins R. to be filled. S is a stop at the end of the tableor shelf P to insure the trays Q being properly placed for filling thevessels.

I will now describe the working of this form of machine in reference todealing with jam. The emptyjam-tins R are assembled in trays Q, andeither one tray at a time is placed in position or more trays may beplaced on the table, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The batch of jam ispoured into the hopper, the jam running freely into and filling all thepockets or measures J. The handle Gis then given a half-turn, thusturning the rollers a halfrevolution and so discharging the contents ofeach pocket J through the holes K into and through the funnels'andchutes L onto the bonnets N, which at once swing out of the way and letthe jam fall. When the bulk of the material has passed down the chutes,the bonnets N swing into their normal position and any few drops left inthe chutes are caught thereby. If preferred, the trays may be insertedto catch the drops instead of the bonnets N. Should the tables used beas shown in Figs. 1 and 2, when one lot of tins R has been filled thetray Q next the stop S is removed, and the other trays are pushed alonguntil the full tray is up against the stop S and another tray of emptytins put on the table at the other side. This operation is repeated aseach tray is filled.

It will of course be understood thatin both machines the details may bemodified in various ways. For instance, the recesses and tubes in thebottom of the hopper and rollers may be made slightly taper tofacilitate keeping them tight. The size and numbers of pockets ormeasures can be varied to suit the requirements of the factory or thegoods being packed. Smaller measures may beinserted in the largerpockets, being held therein by means of a spring. Various sized pocketsor measures may be arranged lengthwise in the rollers, the rollers beingslid along as desired to measure off different quantities. In the firstform described the rollers may be connected and rotated by any suitablemeans other than those described.

Wood or metal, as desired, may be used in the construction of themachines.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is A machine for measuring and filling vessels with apredetermined quantity of any suitable substance, consisting of a hopperhaving recesses formed in the bottom of it, a corresponding number ofcylinders revoluble in bearings or journals placed concentric with saidrecesses, said cylinders being connected so as to rotate together, andhavinga number of pockets at right angles to the axis of the cylinder,holes or outlets in the bottom of the recesses coinciding with thepockets or measures in the cylinders, funnels or chutes, carried in ashelf below the bottom of the hopper, and coinciding with the holestherein, means for catching and retaining any drips, a shelf beneath thefunnels to carry the tray of tins or any other vessels to be filled, asherein described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS SMITH.

Witnesses:

CHARLES S. BERNAY, ALEXANDER ANDERSON.

